Metallic pad



Nov. 19, 1935- G. R. SCHMIDT METALLI C 1 PAD Filed Sept. 28. 1934 Patented Nov. 19, 1935 PATENT OFFICE METALLIC PAD George K. Schmidt, St. Louis, Mo.

Application September 28,1934, Serial No. 745,904

5 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in metallic pads, the peculiarities of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The main objects of my invention are to provide means first, for a metallic wool pad of uniform thickness and substantially equal tensile strength across and lengthwise of the pad; second, for holding such a pad together throughout its length and breadth by arrangement of the metallic wool strands composing it; third, for a special steel wool comprising said pad; fourth,

for the improved method of making said pad; and fifth, for substantial uniformity of surface and flexibility.

My invention relates to resilient, porous, metallic pads subject to heat, pressure and/or steam, such as mangles, ironing and pressing machines for cloth, etc.

l-leretofore, pads of this class have been made of metal shavings disposed in a layer and felted together, having wires interlaced or sewed through the irregular fibers of the mass in various directions and intersecting at various points in the mass. Metal shavings have also been used on the cylindrical roll of an ironing machine with a screen to keep the shavings from creeping or becoming massed when the machine is used; such a screen has also been used on one or both sides of a mass of felted metal shavings.

Again, a pressing pad has been made of a succession of parallel strands of metallic wool arranged lengthwise, and held by rows of lock stitched wire extending transversely. Such wire fastening means lack the resilience of the metal shavings or metallic wool.

My pad is characterized by the elimination of such wire fastenings to maintain its form, and by greater flexibility, resilience and uniformity of surface, as will now be described.

In the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a metallic wool pad exemplifying my invention;

Fig. 2, a pad of my construction as adapted for use on the usual garment pressing buck;

Fig. 3, an edge view of the same; and

Fig. 4, an enlarged detail on section line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the staggered relation of humps and depressions in my pad having two layers.

Metallic wool is manufactured in various sizes of fibers, and of various metals. That make which is known to the trade as ribbon steel wool is made in grades of flat fibers of increasing sizes #1, #2 and #3. Coarser fibers than #3 are known as steel shavings #1 and upwards. It is #3 ribbon steel wool which I prefer to use in constructing my present metallic pad, but I do not confine myself to the size of fibers nor the metal of which they are composed. 5

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates parallel lengthwise strands of metallic wool interlaced with similar parallel transverse strands 2 preferaby of the same material and size, and alternately disposed above and below the lengthwise strands at substantially right angles, as shown in Fig. 1. These strands are approximately 8 x 1" in their loosely intermingled condition as obtained from the manufacturer, and preferably consist of relatively long ribbon steel fiber elements which are intermingled and tangled with each other so that the strands are easily handled and have considerable tensile strength,

When such strands are interlaced as indicated in the figures of the drawing, they form a pad which is equally flexible and strong both lengthwise and crosswise; is independent of any other fastening devices than the strands themselves when in use, and of uniform cushioning resiliency in every portion. The porosity for the passage of steam as in a pressing machine, is also uniform in such a pad.

Furthermore, the surface of my pad when first assembled, presents a uniform surface of depressions at the intersections 3, alternating with rounded humps t which change under pressure in use, to a substantially flat uniform surface which affords a uniform cushioning resistance at every point under the usual fabric covering on which is placed the garment being pressed.

Such cushioning condition is increased by superposing such a one layer pad on another .so as to alternate the intersections of the strands in one layer with the humps in the adjacent layer, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. Such disposition of the layers increases the resistance to any tendency to shift one layer on another adjacent layer, and improves the intermingled contact engagement of the adjacent strands under pressure.

When such a pad of multiple layers is first assembled, the edges of the pad are preferably secured by coarse stitching 5 about one inch from the edges, as indicated. This stitching is of cotton thread which forms only a temporary connection at said edges to facilitate handling in shipping transportation.- The threads are soon scorched and broken when subjected to the heat and steam of a pressing machine which flattens and intimately engages the adjacent surfaces of 55 such layers, and so avoids shifting of the layers with respect to each other, and also any massing or ridges under a rolling pressure.

The method of construction of my pad is as follows: The strands of metallic wool are laid in parallel rows about four to the foot on a table,

forming a rectangle of a length and breadth 2" or 3 more than twice the desired size of the pad (Fig. 1) when finished.

A metal bar, preferably beveled on one edge, is laid across the strands near the middle, to hold them in place and serve as a guide for the first cross strand. Then a set of alternate strands are lifted and laid back over said guide bar, leaving a set of intermediate strands lying on the table. Then a strand of suitable length is laid crosswise of said strands lying on the table, and the strands that were lifted are folded over the cross strand and replaced on the table. In the next step, the set of strands lying under said cross strand is lifted and folded back over said cross strand, and another cross strand is laid on the set lying on the table and is laid laterally as snugly adjacent the previous cross strand as the present lifted set will allow. The second cross strand is now covered by replacing the last lifted set, and the set of intermediate strands is lifted for placing a third cross strand; and so on til the end of the pad is reached. Then the other half length is interlaced in a similar manner. The cross-strands are placed laterally as stated, as it is not practical to draw them into place lengthwise. The interlacing is started at the middle of the lengthwise strands, for convenience in handling the strands, but the interlacing may be otherwise carried out if desired.

As indicated in Fig. 1, such a pad is convenient- 1y made in the form of a rectangle, and then cut to the desired size and tapering shape forming two layers for use in a pressing buck. One of these two portions may then be superposed on the other for the double thickness desired. The

tapering cut separating the initial pad is on a bias, and the opposite edges are parallel with the strands. By placing the bias edge of one layer on the straight edge of the other layer as indicated in Fig. 2, the intersections and humps in one layer will not coincide with similar portions of the other layer. Such staggered arrangement indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and the enlarged detail Fig. 4, effects a better frictional contact engagement of the adjacent faces of said layers under pressure in use, while the temporary stitching at the edges will maintain the relative adjusted position of the layers for shipping transportation, as before described.

A rust or corrosion preventive solution of any kind suitable to the metal of which the wool is made, is applied to the pad if desired.

Thus the warp and woof strands arranged lengthwise and crosswise as described, are composed of bundles of steel wool fibres which are loosely disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the length of the strands, as indicated in the drawing, and such bundles are held in their loosely fabricated position by the more or less tangled arrangement of the fibres which are not otherwise held together in the strands themselves. When, however, they are plaited in warp and woof strands, interlaced lengthwise and crosswise in a plat weave steel pad of suitable size as above stated, the humps thus formed on the surfaces of the material thus fabricated, present a substantially parallel arrangement of the fibres thereof as indicated in the drawing, and thus present a substantially uniform smooth surface of humps and depressions and avoid forming a multiplicity of loose ends of fibres which would perforate the cloth covering of the pad on which the garment to be pressed is disposed.

I claim:

1. A metallic pad of the class described consisting of multiple layers, one layer superposed on another, and having elongated tapering side edges, each layer characterized by a series of parallel strands of metallic wool disposed lengthwise, and a series of strands of metallic wool disposed transversely and intersecting and interlaced with the strands of the first series, and held by frictional contact of the strands, one of said tapering side edges on each layer being substantially parallel to the lengthwise strands and the other side edge of each layer being bias,

said bias side edges being disposed at the parallel side edges of the adjacent layer, substantially as described.

2. A metallic pad of the class described characterized by strands of loosely disposed substantially parallel fibres of metallic wool interlaced lengthwise and crosswise forming warp and woof strands of a plat weave steel pad, substantially as described.

3. A metallic pad of the class describedcharacte-rized by strands of ribbon steel wool of relatively long loosely disposed tangled fibres of uniform tensile strength running substantially parallel to the length of the strands, and said strands interlacingly plaited in warp and woof strands of fabricated bundles of steel wool fibres.

4. A metallic pad of the class described characterized by relatively flat intersectingly plaited strands of loosely arranged fibres of steel wool forming bundles of steel wool fibres laid loosely together substantially parallel to the length of the strands.

5. A metallic pad of the class described characterized by two layers of metallic wool one superposed on the other, and each layer consisting of interlacingly plaited bundles of steel wool fibres loosely laid substantially parallel to the length of the strands formed thereof, and arranged in warp and woof strands forming a plat weave steel pad, substantially as described 

